Milwaukee (56 - 20)

Expert Pick
0% >< 0%

LA (50 - 27)

The Rematch


Week 10 is upon us, we’re just about halfway there now (the games haven’t played yet!) and the season has shaken down considerably with the standings taking shape and the Week 9 trade hit now past us. We’re heading to Trade Deadline time now! But on the way before that, we take a close look at the Finals rematch game between the reformed Lakers and the slightly shaken Milwaukee Bucks! The Bucks: The Bucks were astounded in the offseason when their Championship winning GM decided to take the unheard of route of leaving the team for the league cellar dweller Golden State Warriors for a fresh challenge, after taking the Bucks to the pinnacle. It’s a refreshing take, in a lot of ways, rather than burning down a Championship team, instead going to a team that needs an experienced and strong GM to mould it from the ground up. The Bucks then inherited another experienced GM from the Wolves and the team was almost immediately shaken up from the line up that won it all. The talent pool was diluted and some key guys headed out. Salary concerns for the future appear to be the main instigator of the refresh, and continue to be now throughout moves this season as we see the departure of PG13 when they looked still like a Championship team with the PG/Shai combo healthy. Splitting that contract has meant more pieces and less pressure and Ethan is happy for it. Will it effect the teams chances this year? Next? Beyond? Has Ethan possibly broken down a little too far a true championship contender? Time will tell. They still have Shai and Mobley from the all conquering team of last year, but that’s about it now. And they face the Lakers whom they defeated last year, whom similarly also are nearly completely refreshed. The Lakers: The Lakers just about got there. All the way from the rebuild doldrums a year or so ago, to the top of the pile with smart and strong moves to bring in one of the best trios the league has seen in KD, Steph and Drummond. Yes, Drummond. He’s the man behind so much NSL success already and it continues. But Justin decided for a different path after nearly getting there, rather than going for the run back and remould approach. KD and Steph were almost immediately on the block and both were gone by the start of the season. The team now awash with new fresh faces for the future and the exit of Drummond in free agency was just about the final kick in the balls to boot, losing that asset for free. The team though is far from done. They might be sitting middle of the Play in now, but that’s far and away above where they thought and arguably hoped they would be, and they have a legit shot at making some noise this year in the playoffs as they have done it thus far without Kawhi and largely without Zion and Chet, with Zion finally back on the court now, and Kawhi following soon. Could this team who moved off two of the biggest names in the game, and lost Drummond, still be a team that goes close to all the way? They actually could! And maybe a fresh looking squad getting to know Zion, facing off against their defeaters, is a step along that road. The Projected Match-Ups: C: Mo Bamba Vs Walker Kessler Since he got healthy, Bamba has been the starting man in Milwaukee, filling that hole they created by trading out Myles Turner. He’s been all they need with his rebounding and defensive play, averaging 10 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 2.4 blocks per game in 26 games, all starts, and it might hurt if he doesn’t get a new NBA deal. He faces the impressive kid, Walker Kessler, today, and Kessler in a lot of ways is a higher profile version of what Bamba brings to the table. Same points, but 12.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.7 blocks on more efficient shooting but also in only 21 starts of 25 games. He's the bigger impact guy, but they both fill the same role for their teams. PF: Evan Mobley Vs Zion Williamson Mobley should be so much more than he is in 2k, but 2k hasn’t yet adapted to this type of guy (see JJJ also). 8 points, 8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks feels so pedestrian from a guy as high profile as Mobley and set to be a max player, too. He’ll be put right soon though, and his impact probably already goes further than the numbers suggest. He faces the offensive juggernaut of Zion in this one, so he’ll need all his defensive prowess. Zion has only played 8 games thus far this year, but he’s come out with 27 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists a game as the Lakers desperately needed that 2^nd “man” to aid Cade. He’s going to try torch every team he faces and Mobley might be one of the few that can at least slow him, even just a little. SF: Andrew Wiggins Vs Kawhi Leonard When will Wiggins finally be seen for who he actually is? And that is, what he is producing. There’s always talk of him being so much more, at least in 2k, but 14 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists on decent shooting and a little defence is about it and all it has been for years. Mind you, that’s probably not far off what is needed in Milwaukee anyway, but maybe he steps up a little with more shots to go round now. He’s got the killer match up this week with the finally debuting Kawhi Leonard. He hasn’t played yet this year, but expect him to blow up because he is Kawhi. You know you’re only ever going to get half a season from him, and his ratings are going to steadily drop as he’s nursed through the back end of contract, but he’s going to produce and he’s far more impactful than Wiggins. SG: Buddy Hield Vs Amen Thompson Buddy was touted as a really good target in the offseason, and his play for the Bucks shows why, even if it’s been erratic. As a starter he’s only averaging 9 points on 40/31/90 splits, so this might not be the best choice here this week, since off the bench when given more rope because Shai isn’t next to him, he averages 15 points on 46/41/76 in 4 less minutes. So, if he’s not bringing scoring to the starters, is his role worth it? He faces Amen this week and that won’t end well. Amen should torch Hield on defence and he’ll lock him up offensively too. In 37 starts this year he’s averaging 17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 1.5 steals with his only weakness being his 3pt shooting. Look for a big game here. PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Vs Cade Cunningham Does anything stop Shai? He’s now basically the guy that’s discussed as the only thing that could persuade a Wemby trade. The Thunder held him back so many years, but now he’s unleashed and the Bucks won a title on the back of it. This year he’s right there again with 37 a night, and 5 rebounds and 6 assists…and 2 steals. He’s what everyone hopes they will have one day. Cade though, is someone finally rising to possibly be that Shai guy. He’s finally a PG in the league and he’s been leading this Lakers team through the injuries averaging 26 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists along the way. He suddenly has massive help next to him now, like he did last year, and maybe this team isn’t as far back as they were thought to be hitting that refresh? Bench V Bench: Daniel Gafford, Kevin Huerter, Trey Lyles, Kevon Looney, Wendell Moore Jr. Vs Wendell Carter Jr, Derrick Jones Jr, Jae Crowder, Adam Flagler Both benches are solid, if not a little short for the Lakers. They don’t have another PG and have to rely on Flagler the 2way. If they can get that sorted, they are a menace. Both teams have highly touted big men backing up here but you have to give the depth to the Bucks with the likes of Huerter (who averaged 12 off the bench for the 76ers) and lots of size, ahead of the Lakers vets.

Week 10 is upon us, we’re just about halfway there now (the games haven’t played yet!) and the season has shaken down considerably with the standings taking shape and the Week 9 trade hit now past us. We’re heading to Trade Deadline time now! But on the way before that, we take a close look at the Finals rematch game between the reformed Lakers and the slightly shaken Milwaukee Bucks!

The Bucks:

The Bucks were astounded in the offseason when their Championship winning GM decided to take the unheard of route of leaving the team for the league cellar dweller Golden State Warriors for a fresh challenge, after taking the Bucks to the pinnacle. It’s a refreshing take, in a lot of ways, rather than burning down a Championship team, instead going to a team that needs an experienced and strong GM to mould it from the ground up. The Bucks then inherited another experienced GM from the Wolves and the team was almost immediately shaken up from the line up that won it all. The talent pool was diluted and some key guys headed out. Salary concerns for the future appear to be the main instigator of the refresh, and continue to be now throughout moves this season as we see the departure of PG13 when they looked still like a Championship team with the PG/Shai combo healthy. Splitting that contract has meant more pieces and less pressure and Ethan is happy for it. Will it effect the teams chances this year? Next? Beyond? Has Ethan possibly broken down a little too far a true championship contender? Time will tell. They still have Shai and Mobley from the all conquering team of last year, but that’s about it now. And they face the Lakers whom they defeated last year, whom similarly also are nearly completely refreshed.

The Lakers:

The Lakers just about got there. All the way from the rebuild doldrums a year or so ago, to the top of the pile with smart and strong moves to bring in one of the best trios the league has seen in KD, Steph and Drummond. Yes, Drummond. He’s the man behind so much NSL success already and it continues. But Justin decided for a different path after nearly getting there, rather than going for the run back and remould approach. KD and Steph were almost immediately on the block and both were gone by the start of the season. The team now awash with new fresh faces for the future and the exit of Drummond in free agency was just about the final kick in the balls to boot, losing that asset for free. The team though is far from done. They might be sitting middle of the Play in now, but that’s far and away above where they thought and arguably hoped they would be, and they have a legit shot at making some noise this year in the playoffs as they have done it thus far without Kawhi and largely without Zion and Chet, with Zion finally back on the court now, and Kawhi following soon. Could this team who moved off two of the biggest names in the game, and lost Drummond, still be a team that goes close to all the way? They actually could! And maybe a fresh looking squad getting to know Zion, facing off against their defeaters, is a step along that road.

The Projected Match-Ups:

C: Mo Bamba Vs Walker Kessler

Since he got healthy, Bamba has been the starting man in Milwaukee, filling that hole they created by trading out Myles Turner. He’s been all they need with his rebounding and defensive play, averaging 10 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 2.4 blocks per game in 26 games, all starts, and it might hurt if he doesn’t get a new NBA deal. He faces the impressive kid, Walker Kessler, today, and Kessler in a lot of ways is a higher profile version of what Bamba brings to the table. Same points, but 12.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.7 blocks on more efficient shooting but also in only 21 starts of 25 games. He's the bigger impact guy, but they both fill the same role for their teams.

PF: Evan Mobley Vs Zion Williamson

Mobley should be so much more than he is in 2k, but 2k hasn’t yet adapted to this type of guy (see JJJ also). 8 points, 8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks feels so pedestrian from a guy as high profile as Mobley and set to be a max player, too. He’ll be put right soon though, and his impact probably already goes further than the numbers suggest. He faces the offensive juggernaut of Zion in this one, so he’ll need all his defensive prowess. Zion has only played 8 games thus far this year, but he’s come out with 27 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists a game as the Lakers desperately needed that 2^nd “man” to aid Cade. He’s going to try torch every team he faces and Mobley might be one of the few that can at least slow him, even just a little.

SF: Andrew Wiggins Vs Kawhi Leonard

When will Wiggins finally be seen for who he actually is? And that is, what he is producing. There’s always talk of him being so much more, at least in 2k, but 14 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists on decent shooting and a little defence is about it and all it has been for years. Mind you, that’s probably not far off what is needed in Milwaukee anyway, but maybe he steps up a little with more shots to go round now. He’s got the killer match up this week with the finally debuting Kawhi Leonard. He hasn’t played yet this year, but expect him to blow up because he is Kawhi. You know you’re only ever going to get half a season from him, and his ratings are going to steadily drop as he’s nursed through the back end of contract, but he’s going to produce and he’s far more impactful than Wiggins.

SG: Buddy Hield Vs Amen Thompson

Buddy was touted as a really good target in the offseason, and his play for the Bucks shows why, even if it’s been erratic. As a starter he’s only averaging 9 points on 40/31/90 splits, so this might not be the best choice here this week, since off the bench when given more rope because Shai isn’t next to him, he averages 15 points on 46/41/76 in 4 less minutes. So, if he’s not bringing scoring to the starters, is his role worth it? He faces Amen this week and that won’t end well. Amen should torch Hield on defence and he’ll lock him up offensively too. In 37 starts this year he’s averaging 17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 1.5 steals with his only weakness being his 3pt shooting. Look for a big game here.

PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Vs Cade Cunningham

Does anything stop Shai? He’s now basically the guy that’s discussed as the only thing that could persuade a Wemby trade. The Thunder held him back so many years, but now he’s unleashed and the Bucks won a title on the back of it. This year he’s right there again with 37 a night, and 5 rebounds and 6 assists…and 2 steals. He’s what everyone hopes they will have one day. Cade though, is someone finally rising to possibly be that Shai guy. He’s finally a PG in the league and he’s been leading this Lakers team through the injuries averaging 26 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists along the way. He suddenly has massive help next to him now, like he did last year, and maybe this team isn’t as far back as they were thought to be hitting that refresh?

Bench V Bench:

Daniel Gafford, Kevin Huerter, Trey Lyles, Kevon Looney, Wendell Moore Jr.
Vs
Wendell Carter Jr, Derrick Jones Jr, Jae Crowder, Adam Flagler

Both benches are solid, if not a little short for the Lakers. They don’t have another PG and have to rely on Flagler the 2way. If they can get that sorted, they are a menace. Both teams have highly touted big men backing up here but you have to give the depth to the Bucks with the likes of Huerter (who averaged 12 off the bench for the 76ers) and lots of size, ahead of the Lakers vets.

Bucks Star

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shai is the leagues most important player, clearly, as the reigning MVP, and he’d be right up there again if not favourite this year too, so of course he’s the main man in Milwaukee. They no longer have any other go to guy on offence, which might either hurt them, or force Shai to average 50+ which is a good thing…so, he’s the man.

PPG 37.3

RPG 4.6

APG 5.6

SPG 2.1

BPG 0.9

FPG 2.5

TPG 2.1

PPG 27.7

RPG 4.4

APG 4.7

SPG 0.6

BPG 0.6

FPG 2.3

TPG 1.9

Lakers Star

Cade Cunningham
This year the key and most important man in LA is Cade thus far, and might still be for the whole year despite the return of Zion and Kawhi, and eventually Chet. He’s the leader and man staying on the floor here now and that counts for a lot. He’s also turned the corner coming out of the shadows of the bigger names. He’s the Lakers man amongst a bunch of them.

X-Factor
- The Xfactor in this one is simple in my eyes. It’s a simple matter of firepower and putting that ball in the hoop. The Lakers have averaged 5 points less per game than the Bucks on the season, but they now have Zion and Kawhi and so have 3 or even 4 legitimate threats to drop 20+ on any given night, if it all works together. The Bucks? They might struggle to get 3 guys to score 15 on any given night, even if the top option has 50+. I think it purely comes down to high power scoring and I think the Lakers might have that XFactor.

X-Factor

- The Xfactor in this one is simple in my eyes. It’s a simple matter of firepower and putting that ball in the hoop. The Lakers have averaged 5 points less per game than the Bucks on the season, but they now have Zion and Kawhi and so have 3 or even 4 legitimate threats to drop 20+ on any given night, if it all works together. The Bucks? They might struggle to get 3 guys to score 15 on any given night, even if the top option has 50+. I think it purely comes down to high power scoring and I think the Lakers might have that XFactor.

Injury Report
Injured Players: Chet Holmgren (Hip) - 36 NBA Games missed this season Returning Players: Kawhi Leonard (returning from Knee/Personal/Injury Management) - 37 NBA Games missed this season	Injured Players: Marcus Smart (Ankle/Illness/Shoulder) - 29 NBA Games missed this season Andrew Nembhard (Knee/Injury Management/Back) - 16 NBA Games missed this season Jabari Smith Jr. (Hand) - 15 NBA Games missed this season Returning Players: Evan Mobley (returning from Illness/Ankle/Calf) - 6 NBA Games missed this season

Prediction
Head to Head Prediction: This one is really tough, but I think I’m going to give it to the Lakers! The Bucks have the best guy and Shai will eat, but who is going to walk with him? They have looked close to unbeatable when they had Shai and PG together, but beatable otherwise, and now they move forward as an “otherwise” the whole way. The Lakers are a little unknown with Kawhi debuting, but when they were already winning, and they add Kawhi into the picture? Lakers by 10.

Prediction

Head to Head Prediction:

This one is really tough, but I think I’m going to give it to the Lakers! The Bucks have the best guy and Shai will eat, but who is going to walk with him? They have looked close to unbeatable when they had Shai and PG together, but beatable otherwise, and now they move forward as an “otherwise” the whole way. The Lakers are a little unknown with Kawhi debuting, but when they were already winning, and they add Kawhi into the picture?

Lakers by 10.

		Comments (1)
JustinG 02/04 05:53 pm	wow, I am honored....but after the GSW showing, not feeling so hot!

	IND	101
	CHI	110

	OKC	115
	DET	97

	GS	94
	NY	104

	LAL	109
	DAL	92

	BKN	87
	PHO	96